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"The greatest act of a leader is their service." - Andrea

Andrea Jamison, PhD 

for 2026-2027 ALA President
Visionary, & Radical Champion of Libraries

From Information to Inspiration:
"Redefining Libraries, Empowering Every Library Professional—

 Together, We CAN Change the Narrative"

MEDIA

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The Washington Post

April 5. 2023

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/05/book-bans-how-to-fight/

The Washington Post

April 10, 2023

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/10/parents-rights-parental-responsibility/

Lucidea

Interview with Dr. Andrea Jamison

https://lucidea.com/blog/interview-with-the-author-dr-andrea-jamison-on-inclusive-collection-management/

Boss Librarian & Friends PD

https://youtu.be/NLGvb-eUGts?feature=shared

TED talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/andrea_jamison_why_are_we_still_talking_about_diversity?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

Library Journal

Link: https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/decentering-whiteness-in-libraries-a-framework-for-inclusive-collection-management-practices-2227477

Critical Theory PodCast

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/new-books-in-critical-theory-62784/episodes/andrea-jamison-decentering-whi-192465509

 

 

The Acquisition Institute

https://acquisitionsinstitute.org/2022-keynote-andrea-jamison/

The Intellectual Freedom Blog

https://www.oif.ala.org/hate-received-banning-angie-thomass-book-insult-black-lives-matter-movement/

 

ILA Noon Network: Balancing Equity and Freedom in Collection Development Policies

WATCH on YoutuBE

 

Safeguarding libraries against censorship during a time when politically charged book challenges aim to suppress the ideas of marginalized communities is paramount. Libraries are considered a "cradle" of democracy. To maintain our commitment to equitable library services, we must interrogate the role that policies play in the selection and removal of library materials. This webinar focuses on the importance of crafting collection development policies that combat both censorship and collection inequality. The presentation discusses the historical role of libraries in fighting against injustice and highlights findings from current research on collection development policies. The goal is to highlight best practices for crafting policies that align with library core values and the tenets of information freedom.

About

Dr. Andrea Jamison is an Assistant Professor of Librarianship at Illinois State University with over 17 years of experience in education and libraries. Her diverse background includes roles as a school, public, and academic librarian. Currently, she teaches and mentors preservice teachers and librarians pursuing school library endorsements or MLIS degrees. A staunch advocate for social justice, Dr. Jamison's work centers on fostering inclusivity and equity in library spaces.

 

An internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Jamison addresses topics such as library inclusivity, intellectual freedom, and the interplay of race, power, and privilege in children’s literature. She has delivered keynote speeches and presentations at prominent events, including Library 2.0, the Timberline Acquisition Institute, the University of Chicago, the German Library of Congress, SLJ, PALA, ILA, Harvard, and more. Her research explores equity in library services and examines the role libraries play in either perpetuating or mitigating systemic inequities.

Dr. Jamison has conducted extensive analyses of collection development policies to assess how they address diversity and align with the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights. Her scholarship has been published in outlets such as Knowledge Quest, American Libraries Magazine, The Library Assessment Conference, and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Blog. She recently authored a book titled, Decentering Whiteness in Libraries, part of Beta Phi Mu’s International Honor Society’s Scholars Series.

Dr. Jamison holds a Master of Teaching from Concordia University and both a Master of Library Science and a Ph.D. in Information Studies from Dominican University’s School of Library and Information Science.

 

She initially became a member of the American Library Association as a library student working on her endorsement as a school librarian in 2003. After graduating with a Master of Library Science degree Dr. Jamison became actively involved in work to help make libraries more inclusive.  She was a blogger for ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom vocally opposing censorship. Some of the articles Dr. Jamison penned include:

The Hate She Received: Why the Banning of Angie Thomas’ Book was an Insult to the Black Lives Matter Movement

https://www.oif.ala.org/hate-received-banning-angie-thomass-book-insult-black-lives-matter-movement/

Intellectual Freedom: Where Do We Draw the Line?

https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-draw-line/

The “Uncompromising” Compromise of Beaverton School District’s Book Ban

https://www.oif.ala.org/uncompromising-compromise-beaverton-school-districts-book-ban/

Librarians Beware: Self-Censorship

https://www.oif.ala.org/librarians-beware-self-censorship/

 

Dr. Jamison also served two terms as chair of ALA’s Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Roundtable, which advances multiculturalism in librarianship.  She is  a library ambassador for Lee and Low Books. Notably, she chaired the 2017-2018 working group that revised ALA’s Library Bill of Rights for Diverse Library Collections (formerly Diversity in Collection Development). She was chair for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART) Breakfast and is a current juror for the CSKBART Book Awards.  

 

Dr. Jamison is the current chair for the Institute of Humane Education Social Justice committee, group leader and facilitator with Diverse BookFinder, and advisory committee member for U. S. Representative Danny K. Davis. She was also an advocate for Illinois' Anti Censorship Bill, former chair of AISLE's advocacy committee (Association of Illinois School Library Educators) and former member of their conference planning committee, former member of the committee that helped with the launch of the United Against Book Bans Book Resume website, former reviewer for SLJ and Booklist, and 2022-2023 Scholar in Residence for Illinois State University where she provided both research and professional development to university faculty in the area of diversity and inclusion. 

Prior to her work in libraries, Dr. Jamison worked as a classroom teacher. She also worked as grant writer and program evaluator and secured over a half a million dollars in funding for various non profit organizations including:  CCASP, Chicago Area Project, Urban Connection Project, ROCWC, and many more.  She also worked as an after school coordinator and program supervisor for SES program sites (Supplemental Education Services).

Andrea Jamison is a current member of EMIERT, CSKBART,  BCALA, ALSC, Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, REFORMA, and Freedom to Read Foundation. She is a former member of: AASL and the Association of Illinois School Library Educators, ALISE, and ACRL.

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Work

Andrea Jamison has worked in various areas of librarianship, with a career marked by innovative service, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. Jamison has been at the forefront of speaking about intellectual freedom and equity. Her work reflects a deep commitment to diversity, social justice, and intellectual freedom. Dr. Jamison has served in numerous roles, including: Two-term Chair for the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Roundtable (EMIERT), CSK Bart Book Awards Juror (Current), Member of the CSK Bart Marketing Committee, Chair of the CSK Breakfast Awards Committee, Advocacy Chair for the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE), Chair of the Working Group that Updated the Library Bill of Rights Interpretation for Diverse Collections, Working Member of the United Against Book Bans “Book Resumes”launch, Facilitator and Group Leader for the Diverse BookFinder Community of Practice (Current) ALA Council Member Blogger for ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom Member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) School Librarians Committee, Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at IHE (Current), Booklist Reviewer, SLJ Reviewer, Teaching Scholar in Residence specializing in DEI, Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated (Current) Ambassador for Lee and Low Books Member of Congressman Davis K. Davis’s Advisory Working Group (Current), Member of Reforma (Current), Member of ACRL, Member of ALISE, Member of ALSC (Current), Member of the Intellectual Freedom RT (Current), and Illinois Council for Social Studies Dr. Jamison's leadership and advocacy work have significantly advanced equity-driven library practices and reinforced the essential role of libraries in fostering inclusive, informed communities.

Decentering Whiteness in Libraries

What Does Diversity Mean? Crafting Inclusive Collection Policies

Requiem For Black Love

Film

Work
Speaking

Speaking Inquiry

Thank you for your inquiry!

For any media inquiries, please contact Lonzell Brown:

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